Position indicating device for attachment to a ski boot

ABSTRACT

A position indicating device for attachment to the boot of a skier for the purpose of developing foot control, comprising a main base shaped to fit on the toe of a boot, a dial unit, and a swivel joint between the base and the dial unit. The dial unit includes a magnetic dial marked to indicate angles, a flat base, a vertical rotatable shaft on which the dial is fixedly mounted for rotation with the shaft, a housing mounted on the base and enclosing the dial, and a pointer fixedly mounted in the housing above the dial. The dial indicates the degree of rotating of the foot of the wearer.

United States Patent 1 1 Gauthier 1 1 POSITION INDICATING DEVICE FOR ATTACHMENT TO A SKI BOOT [76] Inventor: Armand J. Gauthier 1018 W. 7th

St. Hastings. Nehr. 63901 [221 Filed: Apr. 10, 1974 1211 Appl. No; 459.793

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 160,629. Nov. 9.

1971, abandoned.

152] US. Cl. 280/1137 E; 33/333; 33/355;

272/57 B [51} int. Cl. A63c 11/00 [58] Field of Search 280/1137 R, 11.37 T,

280/1137 E, 11.37 M; 33/333, 355, 354, 373,334,174 D; 36/25 R. 2.5 AC, 1; 272/57 B. 57 D, 70; 273/183 B [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 757,983 4/1904 Vaile 272/57 D UX 1,380,949 6/1921 Eisenmann 33/355 1 1 June 10, 1975 3.077.678 2/1963 Roycr, Sr. 36/1 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 789.942 l/l 58 United Kingdom 33/354 720,201 12/1931 France 272/57 D Primary ExaminerDavid Schonberg Assistant Examiner-Milton L. Smith Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Bertha L. MacGregor [57] ABSTRACT A position indicating device for attachment to the boot of a skier for the purpose of developing foot control. comprising a main base shaped to fit on the toe of a boot, a dial unit, and a swivel joint between the base and the dial unit. The dial unit includes a magnetic dial marked to indicate angles, a flat base, a vertical rotatable shaft on which the dial is fixedly mounted for rotation with the shaft, a housing mounted on the base and enclosing the dial, and a pointer fixedly mounted in the housing above the dial. The dial indicates the degree of rotating of the foot of the wearer,

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures A POSITION INDICATING DEVICE FOR ATTACHMENT TO A SKI BOOT This application is a continnation-impart of my copending application Ser. No. 160.629. filedNov. 9. I97 I. for Ski-Toe and now abandoned.

This invention relates to a position indicating t.lt)\ ice designed for attachment to the boots of a skier for the purpose of developing foot control and improving the wearer's performance on ski slopes.

The main object of the invention is to provide a device easily attachable to and removable from the boots of a skier. provided with means for reading the angles to which the wearer may turn his feet in the course of his practice of the sport. to thereby aid him in turning both feet to the same degree and angle at the same time.

Another object is to provide a device for the purpose described. useful for snow skiing and also for indoor practice.

Another object is to provide weighted means for the device described which serves the purpose of making the wearer less aware of the distance between his toes and the tip of the ski. and thus aids his practice and performance.

In the drawings:

FIG. I is atop plan view of the position indicating de' vice and part of the elastic means for engaging the toe of a ski boot embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view in the plane of the line 2-2 of FIG. I. on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view in the plane of the line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an elevational view illustrating the tilting of the dial housing relatively to the base of the device.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the parts shown in FIG. I. in two positions. illustrating the reaction of the dial when the position indicating device is moved into either the right or left position.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, a main base I0 has upper and lower flat surfaces II. a projecting lip II' on the lower surface 11, a curved inner side surface 12 shaped to fit over the sole of a ski boot (not shown) at its toe end. and outwardly extending converging side surfaces 13. The base may be made of plastic or other suitable material, weighted with lead or otherwise to give it desired weight. A two ounce weight has been found desirable. A length of elastic cord I4 is attached to the ase I0 for surrounding the body of the ski boot and mounting the device on the toe of the boot. The lip II' aids in engaging the boot and holding the device firmly on the toe of the boot.

The main base I0 is provided with a recess 15 lined with a sleeve 16, preferably made of polyethylene. for reception of the ball I7 which is part of the position indicating mechanism. The inner diameter of the sleeve I6 is slighty smaller than the diameter of the ball 17. but due to its flexibility permits the ball to be forced into the sleeve and to have relative movement therein for swivel movement and leveling of the dial about to be described.

The dial unit of the invention comprises a circular flat base 21 having an indentation 22 at its center. and a depending boss 23 recessed to receive the stem 24 connected to the ball 17. The base 21 has a circumferential edge 25 which extends upwardly and downwardly from the flat body portion of the base. for strengthening it and providing a rim for engaging the dome shaped housing 26. A vertical rotatable shaft 30 has its upper end loosely mounted in the housing 26 and its lower pointed end in the indentation 22 of the base 21. A pointer 3I is fixedly mounted beneath the upper wall of the housing 26 to point in a direction straight forwardly of the wearer. The vertical shaft 30 may extend through the pointer and is rotatable rela tivcly thereto.

A disc form dial 35 is fixedly mounted on the rotatable shaft 30. The dial may be made of plastic or other suitable material. provided with a central hole in a center boss 36. The face of the dial has numerals or marks thereon starting at 0 and progressing to at each side of the zero reading.

Location of the zero designation should be in alignment with the longitudinal dimension of the wearers foot. or in other words. the dial should be so located in the position indicating device that the zero is in the transverse center of the forward portion of the device as shown in FIG. I. The numerals or marks provide readings from 0 to 90 regardless of whether the foot is rotated to the right or left. The dial 35 has its (1 reading directly in line with the major dimension of a mag net 37 secured to the under side of the dial 35 by a sealant. although finding true north and south is not essential. Both dial 35 and magnet 37 rotate with the vertical shaft which rotates freely in its bearing in the indentation 22 in the base 21.

The dial 35, with its zero reading directly in line with the longitudinal dimension of the magnet 37. turns to ward north or south automatically. The wearer of the device about to engage in ski practice observes the direction in which the 0 numeral is pointing and faces in that direction. This action will align the pointer 31 with the O numeral. Any turning of the foot of the wearer will cause the dial 35 to move a readable number of degrees to either right or left.

The length of the magnet 37 is restricted so that no interference occurs due to proximity of the magnets of two of the position indicating devices when the wearer places his feet together. side by side. as in the starting position for snow ski exercise. The device is designed for a skier practicing foot control while off the ski slope. After assuming the parallel feet position, the skier rotates both feet in a simulated ski turn. holds a steady position, and checks the degree reading of each dial. The degree readings should correspond. If they do not, the skier practices to overcome a lazy foot and to achieve a matching degree of rotation of both feet.

Obvious changes in details of construction may be made. For example. means other than the elastic cord 14 may be employed to hold the base 10 of the device on the ski boot of a user; and the pointer 31 may be a simple small disc with a line indented on its upper surface.

The word b0ot" as used in the specification and claims is intended to include boots. shoes and other footwear which may be worn by the user of the position indicating device of this invention, and to which the position indicating device may be attached as explained herein.

I Claim:

I. A position indicating device attachment for ski boots for developing foot control of the wearer. comprising a. a main base shaped to fit the toe of a ski boot,

b. a dial unit including a magnetic dial marked to indicate angles. a rotatable shaft on which the dial is mounted for rotation with the shaft. a housing enclosing the magnetic dial. a dial unit base on which the housing is mounted. and a pointer fixedly mounted above the dial.

c. a swivel joint mounted in the main base and connected to the base of the dial unit. and

d means attaching the device to a ski boot.

2. The device defined by claim 1. in which the main base is weighted to provide approximately two ounces of weight to the device.

3. The device defined by claim 1. in which the dial is marked with a zero designation registering with the north-south dimension of the magnetic dial. and is marked with angle markings designating 90 at each side of the zero designation.

4. The device defined by claim 1. in which the rotatable shaft on which the dial is mounted has a pointed lower end mounted in an indentation in the dial unit base and has an upper end loosely mounted in the dial housing.

5. The device defined by claim 1, in which the dial is a plastic flat disc and has a magnet attached to its lower surface.

6. The device defined by claim 1, in which the swivel joint comprises a ball movable in the main base. and a stem projecting from the ball having its free end connected to the dial unit base, for leveling the dial unit.

7. The device defined by claim 1. in which the means attaching the device to a ski boot is an elastic cord having its ends attached to the main base and its portion intermediate the ends surrounding the boot of the wearer.

8. A position indicating device for attachment to a ski boot for developing foot control and practice of foot turns, comprising a. a main base shaped to fit the toe of a ski boot.

b. a magnetic dial unit provided with means indicating a selected guide position for the wearers foot and indicating angles at opposite sides of said means when the wearer turns his foot to one side or the other.

a swivel joint mounted in the main base and connected to the dial unit. and

d. means attaching the device to a ski boot. 

1. A position indicating device attachment for ski boots for developing foot control of the wearer, comprising a. a main base shaped to fit the toe of a ski boot, b. a dial unit including a magnetic Dial marked to indicate angles, a rotatable shaft on which the dial is mounted for rotation with the shaft, a housing enclosing the magnetic dial, a dial unit base on which the housing is mounted, and a pointer fixedly mounted above the dial, c. a swivel joint mounted in the main base and connected to the base of the dial unit, and d. means attaching the device to a ski boot.
 2. The device defined by claim 1, in which the main base is weighted to provide approximately two ounces of weight to the device.
 3. The device defined by claim 1, in which the dial is marked with a zero designation registering with the north-south dimension of the magnetic dial, and is marked with angle markings designating 90* at each side of the zero designation.
 4. The device defined by claim 1, in which the rotatable shaft on which the dial is mounted has a pointed lower end mounted in an indentation in the dial unit base and has an upper end loosely mounted in the dial housing.
 5. The device defined by claim 1, in which the dial is a plastic flat disc and has a magnet attached to its lower surface.
 6. The device defined by claim 1, in which the swivel joint comprises a ball movable in the main base, and a stem projecting from the ball having its free end connected to the dial unit base, for leveling the dial unit.
 7. The device defined by claim 1, in which the means attaching the device to a ski boot is an elastic cord having its ends attached to the main base and its portion intermediate the ends surrounding the boot of the wearer.
 8. A position indicating device for attachment to a ski boot for developing foot control and practice of foot turns, comprising a. a main base shaped to fit the toe of a ski boot, b. a magnetic dial unit provided with means indicating a selected guide position for the wearer''s foot and indicating angles at opposite sides of said means when the wearer turns his foot to one side or the other, c. a swivel joint mounted in the main base and connected to the dial unit, and d. means attaching the device to a ski boot. 